Veneer patch cutting machine



April 20, 1937. J. GRAGG 2,077,623

VENEER PATCH CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1935 l3 .'Sheecs-SheeI l 75 l c? 74 l Z 66 72 i 7/ I -2 l 5yi i i l j@ l i l I 4 jj: O 571 i l. I 5 25 6g M d' I l I l /If 24 25 WI w77' l I 5f. I l

e l 67 l a 7 48 l l 'i 70 f g 7/ I i 65 l 72 t I INI/ENT AR 4 l J//N G" /G 74 BY /gwrf ATTORNEY u 20, 1937. 3. GRAGG 2,077,623 l y VENEER PATCH CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 l 4% .3 /NVENTOR JOHN GRAS G A TfToR/VE y April 20, 1937.

J. GRAGG 2,077,623

VENEER PATCH CUTTING MACHINE Filed Jan. 14, 1935 3 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR Patented Apr. 2o, i937 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE 3 Claims.

This invention relates to wood patch cutting machines and more particularly to an improved type of machine for cutting patch pieces from veneer strips for use in patching veneer stock where knots, pitch pockets, stains and other aws have been removed; it being the principal object of the invention to provide a machine for the above stated purpose whereby patch pieces of accurate size may be manufactured rapidly and in an economical manner.

More specifically stated, the objects oi the present invention reside in the provision of a machine of the above stated character in which mechanisms are provided for intermittently advancing a strip of veneer from which the patch pieces are to be cut, and adjacent which mechanisms a pair of electrically operated motors are arranged with their driven shafts extending transversely of the direction of advancement of the strip and equipped, respectively, with oppositely facing spherically cupped disk saws so located relative to the strip and to each other that incident to oscillation of the motor in timing with operations of the strip advancing means they will coact to effect the cutting of patch pieces from the strip.

It is also an object of the invention toI provide a novel means for eiecting intermittent advance movements of the veneer strip and oscillating movements of the saw driving motors.

Other objects of the invention reside in the details of construction of the various parts of the machine, in their combination and in their mode of operation as will hereinafter be described- In accomplishing these and other objects of the invention, I have provided the improved details of construction, the preferred forms of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings, where- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a patch cutting machine embodied by the present invention.

Fig. 2 is a top, or plan view of the same.

Fig. 3' is an end elevation of the machine, particularly illustrating the arrangement of the motors and relationship of the saws.

Fig. 4 is a horizontal section, on the line 4-4 in Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a side view oi one of the motors and its saw; showing the relationship of the saw and veneer strip guideway and the veneer strip clamp plates.

Fig. 6 is a top view of the same parts.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, showing one of the motor oscillating cams and associated parts,

Fig.I 8 is a face View of the cam,

Fig. 9 is a view of the strip advancing ratchet mechanism.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the strip advancing ratchet mechanism, and its actuating crank.

Figs. 11 and 12, respectively, show in plan and 5 edge view, a patch, as cut by the coaction of the saws, from the strip.

Referring more in detail to the drawings- The operating parts of the present machine are mounted upon a substantial and rigid frame structure of rectangular form, comprising four corner legs I, joined across their lower ends by channel bars 2 and across their upper ends by angle bars 3. A bed plate 4 is fixed upon these latter bars to form a fiat table top. Also, horizontal cross bars 5 are fixed in the frame somewhat below the top and these mount thereon a horizontal bed plate 6 on which the motor oscillating cams and the strip advancing mechanisms are mounted, as will presently be described. 20

An electric motor 1, for operating the strip advancing means and for oscillating the saw driving motors, is mounted below the plate 6 on supports 8 which are fixed, as seen in Figs. 1 and 3, upon the lower cross bars 2. 25

The veneer strips Afrom which patch pieces are to be cut, are advanced to the saws within a horizontal guideway I0 extending across the upper bed plate 4. This guideway, as seen in Figs. 2 and 3, is defined by two parallel guide bars I I-I I 30 supported in spaced relation above the bed 4 by a plurality of studs I2, fixed in the plate 4, as seen in Figs. 1 and 5. The veneer patch strips, one of which is designated at I5, are of a width to be advanced within the guideway without lateral play and they are advanced by short, intermittent movements by the driving action of paired feed rolls which are located respectively above and below the guideway at spaced intervals therealong, as will now be explained. 40

By reference particularly to Figs. l and 2, it will be observed that there are paired upper and lower feed rolls I6 and I1 at the receiving end of the guideway and these are supported by driving shafts I 6 and I'I, respectively. At the de- 45 livery end of the guideway, there is a similar pair of rolls I8 and I9 mounted respectively by shafts I8 and I9. Intermediate these two sets `of feed rolls, at substantially equally spaced intei-vals, are feed rolls 20, 2|, and 22 located beneath the guideway and mounted respectively by shafts 20', 2|', and 22. Directly overlying these lower rolls are relatively small upper rolls 23, 2,4, and 25. The driving shafts I6 and I1' for the first mentionedpair of feed rolls are revolubly mounted in suitable bearing brackets, designated at 26, that are mounted on the top plate 4. The driving shafts 2U', 2|', and 22 for the other lower rolls are revoluble in bearings 21 xed on the plate 5, and the supporting shafts for the cooperating upper rolls 23, 24, and 25, revolve in bearings 28 fixed on the guide bars II-I I.

When a veneer strip I 5 is inserted between the initial feed rolls I6 and I1, it is advanced by short, intermittent movements, which are effected by a driving connection with the motor 1. This connection comprises a sprocket chain belt 30 that operates about a driving sprocket wheel 3I on the motor shaft 'Ia and about a sprocket wheel 32 fixed on a horizontal shaft 33, revolubly supported in bearings 34 and 35, mounted in spaced relation, as seen in Fig. 4, on the bed plate 6. On the end of the shaft 33, extended beyond the bearing 35, is a crank arm 36 connected pivotally to a rod 38 which, in turn connects pivotally to the outer end* of a crank arm 38 revolubly mounted on a supporting shaft 39 which, at its ends, is supported revolubly in spaced bearings 40-49, as seen best in Figs. 4, 9, and 10. A pawl 4I is pivotally mounted in the crank arm 38 and this pawl is adapted to cooperatively engage a ratchet wheel 42 fixed on the shaft 39.

Fixed on the shaft 39 is a sprocket wheel 44 and a sprocket chain belt 45 operates about the wheel 44 and about a smaller sprocket wheel 46 fixed on the driving shaft 20 of feed roll 20'. Thus, with each rotation of the crank arm 36, the arm 33 is oscillated. Accordingly, the pawl 4I advances the ratchet wheel 42 a definite interval and this, in turn, rotates the sprocket Wheel 44 a like interval which, through the chain belt connection 45 rotates the feed roll 20 for advancement of the veneer strip I5.

Each of the other lower feed rolls is actuated by connection with the shaft 20 of the feed roll 29 so that all will rotate in unison and to the same extent. The driving connections, as illustrated best in Figs. 1 and 2, comprise a sprocket chain belt 48 operating about a driving sprocket wheel 49 on shaft 20 and about sprocket wheels 50 and 5I of a like size on the shafts I6 and I1 of rolls I6 and I1. A sprocket chain belt 52 operates about sprocket wheels 53 and 54 on shafts 20' and 2|' to drive the rolls 2I. A sprocket chain belt 55 operates about sprockets 56- and 51 on shafts 2| and 22 to drive the roll` 22 and likewise a chain belt 58 operates about sprockets 59 and 60 on shafts 22 and I9" to drive the roll I9. The strip I5 is guided between the upper and lower feed rolls and the lower rolls are preferably knurled, as seen in Fig. 3, to aid in advancing the strip and to hold it against possible slippage.

For cutting the patch pieces from the strip I5 there is provided two saw units, comprising electric motors 65 and E6, located at opposite sides ofthe guideway I I! and one in advance of the other, as seen best in Fig. 2. These motors are disposed with their driven shafts extending transversely of the direction of the guideway. The motors are pivotally supported by means permitting them to oscillate in planes perpendicular to the direction of the strip I 5. Each motor is fixed upon a supporting base 68 an-d these bases are disposed between and pivotally supported by the upstanding arms 69-69 of slides 16 which in turn are movable toward and from the guideway between supporting guide rails 1|-1I fixed on the bed plate 4; the meansfor effecting movement of a slide comprising a bolt 'I2 xed in the slide and extended in the direction of movement through a lug 13 xed on the base plate, with adjusting nuts 14-14 threaded onto the bolt and engaging opposite faces of the lug.

The supporting trunnions 15 about which each motor is adapted to oscillate in its support are in axial alinement and this bisects the axial line of the motor shaft, as will be observed by reference to Fig. 3.

Fixed on the extended ends of the motor shafts 65 and 66 are disk saws 16-11 each of which is spherically cupped about a center which is the point of intersection of the motor shaft and its axis of. oscillation.

The .saws of the two motors are alike in size and curvature and are oppositely faced and are so arranged that by oscillation of the motors, they may be caused to cut downwardly through the advanced veneer strip I5. The arcuate cuts thus to be made through the strip by the first saw will be intersected by the cuts made by the second saw, thereby to cut out patch pieces of the shape illustrated in Figs. 1l and 12.

The means for oscillating the saw units is illustrated best in Figs. l, 3, and e. As observed in Fig. 4, there is a horizontal shaft 89 disposed at a right angle to shaft 33, and supported revolubly in bearings 8I and 82 on the bed plate, 6. This shaft is driven from the latter shaft by intermeshing bevel gears 83 and 84 of like size xed, respectively, to these shafts. Mounted on the shaft 8D, in spaced relation are inside cams 85 and 86 and associated with these cams are lever arms 81 and 88 having ends pivotally fixed, as at 89, to mounting brackets 99 fixed to the base plate 6. These levers extend operatively across the upper face portions` of the cams. The lever 81 has a follower 9| engaging within the slot of cam 85 while lever 88 has a follower 92 likewise engaging cam 86. The upper ends of the lever arms are connected, respectively, by rods 93 and 94 with brackets 95 and 96 fixed rigidly to and extending downwardly from the mounting bases of the motors. Thus, incident to rotation of the cams, the levers and links effect a definite oscillatory action of the motors whereby their saws are rst caused to be actuated downwardly to cut through the strip I5, and are then lifted in the clear of the stripl for its advancement. The cams 85 and 86 are so set on the shaft that the motors are oscillated in unison and this motion is synchronized with the operations of the strip advancing ratchet mechanism, so that the strip advances during those periods that the saws are clear of the strip.

Coiled springs 9B and 98' are attached to the upper ends of the lever arms 81 and 88 and to the outer edges of bed plate 4 tomaintain smoothness of motion of the saws.

In order to insure that the 'patch pieces when cut free of the strip will be separated therefrom, an arm 99 is attached to the supporting base 68 of the mo-tor 66 and is extended to a position overlying the strip at a point beyond the saws. This arm 99 has a downwardly offset end 99 arranged to register with the position of a severed patch in the strip I 5 while the strip is at rest so that when the motor base is rocked downwardly it will push the patch from the strip. The removed patches drop into a chute |00 which may lead to any suitable receptacle.

It will be mentioned here that the size of the patch pieces may be changed by inward or outward adjustment of the two motors relative to the guideway and this is accomplished by an adjustment of the slides 10 through manipulation of the nuts 14 on the bolts '|2.

To prevent possible slippage of the Veneer strip I5 in the guideway during a sawing operation, and more especially to hold the patch piece against binding the saw while being cut from the strip, the latter is passed adjacent each saw between clamp plates |02 and |03, as seen best in Fig. 5. The under plate |02 in each instance is stationary and is supported by certain of the bolts I2 which mount the guide bars The overlying plate |03 in each instance extends lengthwise of the strip and is supported centrally by a stud |04 extending upwardly through an opening in a plate |05 fixed on the rail at that side with a coiled spring |06 surrounding the studs and resting on the plates and pushing upwardly on heads |04 of the studs and normally releasing the clamping action. Arms |08 are fixed to the motors and extended upwardly to positions at which their ends will contact the upper ends of the studs to push them downwardly when the moto-rs swing down to cutting position, so that the veneer strip and that part comprising the patch piece will then be securely gripped between the clamp plates as the saw operates thereon. When the motors rock back to raised position, the springs lift the plates |03 and the veneer strip is again free for advancement by the feed rolls.

Assuming the device to be so constructed, it is only necessary to feed the Veneer strips into the machine between the feed rolls I6 and and the operating mechanisms then advance it by intermittent movements to the saws which are actuated, by the oscillating action of their driving motors, into the strip during its periods of rest thereby to sever the patch pieces from the strip. On lifting of the motors the strip is advanced an interval slightly more than the length of a patch and then the saws again operate.

,This machine is accurate, easily operated and economical.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new therein and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:-

1. A patch cutting machine comprising a guideway, means for feeding a strip of veneer along the guideway, a motor support at each side of the guideway, a motor base pivoted in each support, an electric motor xed on each base and having its shaft extended over the strip; the axis about which each motor pivots being perpendicular to and intersecting the axial line of its shaft and permitting the extended end of the shaft to be swung directly toward and from the strip, a spherically cupped disk saw fixed on each motor shaft; said saws being oppositely faced and each being cupped about the point of intersection of the axial line of the motor shaft which mounts it and the pivoting axis of the motor, means for intermittently actuating the feeding means to advance the strip definite distances, means operating in timing therewith to oscillate the motors to cause their saws to out into the strip while at rest, thereby incident to advancement of the strip to form arcuate cuts which, by reason of advancement of the strip, will intersect to define and sever patch pieces from the strip, guides for the mo-tor supports, and means for adjusting the supports therein toward and from the guideway and for fixing them at set positions.

2. A machine of the character described, comprising a guideway, means for feeding a strip of veneer along the guideway, a motor base pivoted at each side of the guideway, an electric motor mounted on each base and having its shaft extended over the strip, a spherically cupped disk saw fixed on each motor shaft; said saws being opposedly faced, means for intermittently actuating the feeding means to advance a strip definite distances, means operating in timing therewith to oscillate the motor bases to cause the motor saws to cut into the strip while at rest and thereby to form arcuate cuts, which incident to advancement of the strip, will intersect to define and sever the patch pieces from the strip, and an arm fixed to one of said motor bases and movable therewith to eccentrically engage and disp-lace said patch pieces from the strip openings.

3. A machine of the character described, comprising a guideway, means for intermittently feeding a strip of veneer or the like along the guideway, a motor pivotally supported at each side of the guideway, a cupped saw fixed on each motor shaft, means operating in timing with the intermittent feeding means to oscillate the motors to cause their saws to cut intoI the strip while at rest, thereby to form arcuate cuts which define the patch pieces, and an arm fixed to one of said motors and movable therewith to eccentrically engage and displace said patch pieces to cause them to drop through the strip openings dened by the saw cuts.

JOHN GRAGG. 

